RaquelSiganporia

Raquel is a Partner and head of the Spinal Injury team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. Raquel moved to Bolt Burdon Kemp in 2008 to qualify and became a Partner in 2016. Raquel specialises in representing clients who sustain spinal cord injuries due to substandard medical treatment or as a result of traumatic accident.

Raquel is able to offer a unique understanding of living with a spinal cord injury having become paralysed at T6-T7 aged 11, in 1993 following an incident of medical negligence. Raquel draws on her legal reputation and personal experience to frequently achieve 7 figure settlements where liability and causation is often denied.

Raquel has a wealth of experience in complex catastrophic cases, having acted for clients injured through road traffic accidents, employers liability, spinal surgery and GP negligence. Raquel is frequently instructed on cases where there has been a failure to prevent, diagnose or treat the spinal injury, or a failure to act on neurological deterioration resulting in harm which could have been avoided.

As a result of Raquel’s extensive knowledge and understanding of spinal cord injury, she also represent clients who sustain a spinal cord injury and go on to have treatment which worsens their injury. Or, clients develop complex pressure ulcers which result in greater care needs that could have been avoided.

Raquel works closely with her clients, their families, and healthcare professionals to ensure their complex needs are well met so that they are fully supported whilst they rebuild their life post-injury. Raquel has substantial experience in setting up care packages together with funding their immediate needs. Raquel relishes the challenges involved in ensuring clients are enabled to participate fully in everyday life with the correct care, accommodation, medical therapies, vehicles aids, equipment and support. Ensuring where possible that clients resume employment as well as their interests and hobbies is key to Raquel when obtaining a successful outcome.

As well as fighting hard to obtain excellent results for her clients, Raquel believes in improving care and raising awareness of what it actually means to have a spinal cord injury. Raquel passionately believes that with the right support it is possible to rebuild a fulfilling life following a spinal cord injury.

Raquel is therefore proud to be a current Trustee and past Vice – Chair for the Spinal Injuries Association, a national charity which supports those that sustain a spinal cord injury.

In addition, Raquel was a Patient Representative on a specialist panel tasked with developing and drafting NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Guidelines on the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. This guidance was published in April 2014 and is the current leading authority within the UK’s NHS.

Raquel also sits on Association of Personal Injury Lawyer’s Serious Injury Guide. The guide is aimed at achieving a collaborative process between claimant and defendant representatives, in personal injury catastrophic claims where damages are over £250,000.

Raquel is a recognised and respected speaker on issues surrounding spinal cord injury. Raquel is frequently invited to speak to the legal, medical and educational industry as well as the national media and press.

What the legal industry says about Raquel

Raquel is highly recommended within the legal industry and has been widely praised for her excellent client care.

Sources speak highly of her as “really considered, extremely patient and incredibly dedicated,” adding that “she knows the subject very well and is great with clients.” – Chambers & Partners 2018

The Legal 500 states Raquel is ‘an immensely impressive and committed’ solicitor with ‘an excellent reputation’

Chambers and Partners have individually ranked Raquel and state “Sources speak highly of her as “really considered, extremely patient and incredibly dedicated,” adding that “she knows the subject very well and is great with clients.”

Notable cases

Raquel has had exceptional successes, the most significant of which was a £5.3 million settlement for a client paralysed as a teenager from negligent treatment in respect of an operation to correct scoliosis, a curvature of the spine.

Raquel secured £2m for a client who sustained urological dysfunction and a conversion disorder manifesting itself as a spinal cord injury following a road traffic collision. The case was fought throughout with the Defendant placing a value of £20k on the client’s injuries.

Raquel also obtained a capitalised amount of £1m for an 81 year old client who became paralysed during spinal surgery to remove a prolapsed, calcified disc. Liability was denied throughout the claim but Raquel fought hard to achieve a settlement which allowed the client to pay for the complex, substantial care she now required and provide her with a home which she could fully access.

Campaigns

Raquel spearheads several campaigns and raises awareness of the issues faced by those who have a spinal cord injury.

Wheelchair Awareness Day in Islington, later replicated in Birmingham. The day showed how outside environments can make or break a wheelchair user’s potential.

Press and Media

Raquel is often asked to provide expert comment on spinal cord injury to the national media which includes Sky News, Daybreak, Panorama, ITV, Victoria Derbyshire, The Times, The Independent and the Huffington Post.

Professional memberships

“Horatio’s Garden Salisbury as so grateful to Bolt Burdon Kemp for their very generous sponsorship of the Summer Fundraising Weekend. Their generosity has covered all the costs of the weekend enabling the charity to raise the vital funds needed to provide events and activities for patients at Horatio’s Garden at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. People who have experienced spinal cord injury face long stays in hospital and Horatio’s Garden gives a place of sanctuary and distraction away from the clinical environment. Thank you to everyone at Bolt Burdon Kemp for helping so much with the fundraising.”

Dr OliviaChappleFounder and Chair of Trustees

"Raquel gave me a very individual service, I never felt like 'another client'."

StefaniaGiraldi

Raquel Siganporia and Alex Dabek were exceptional and stood out as being able to deliver a professional service whilst being able to balance a personal approachable rapport required when dealing with Victoria and our family. Nothing seemed too much trouble when dealing with this complex case and they went the extra mile to deliver an exemplary service at all times.

Steve, father to C5/C6 tetraplegic client

"Raquel, In my opinion you are wonderful, not just because of the outcome of my case but because of how supportive you were to me. Best Regards Bella x"